Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1401’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Sunost1401’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with velvety dark purple-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1401’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunost1401’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compactand uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractiveray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by theInventor in May, 2010 of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Carlos’, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,637, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number08.50.010, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newOsteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense,Denmark in June, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark sinceSeptember, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this newOsteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunost1401’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunost1401’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with velvety dark        purple-colored ray florets.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent, ‘Sunny Carlos’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants        of ‘Sunny Carlos’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Carlos’ differ in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Carlos’ have white-colored        ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have pale purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Mary’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,389. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plantsof the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Mary’ differed in        leaf shape.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum had larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Sunny Mary’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Mary’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Mary’ had red        purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunost1401’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Sunost1401’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practicestypical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunost1401’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny            Carlos’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,637.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 08.50.010,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly            spreading and mounding plant habit; inflorescences            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong            peduncles; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 20.3 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit            with about five primary lateral branches per plant; pinching            enhances branching potential. Length: About 6.3 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B to 144C.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 4.7 cm. Width: About 4.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Short attenuate. Margin: Irregularly and            coarsely crenate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely to moderately glandular pubescence; rough. Venation            pattern: Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 137D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker            than between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;            venation, close to 144C. Petioles: Length: About 1.8 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm to 4.5 mm. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with oblanceolate            to narrowly oblong-shaped ray florets; inflorescences            terminal and axillary and positioned above and beyond the            foliar plane on strong peduncles; disc and ray florets            developing acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face            mostly upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 50            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new            Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to late summer;            early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six to            eight weeks after pinching.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new            Osteospermum last about two to three weeks on the plant;            inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            1.1 cm. Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 137C; towards the            apex, close to N186C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.8 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About 2 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate to narrowly oblong; reflexing with development.            Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower            surface: Mostly smooth, glabrous; towards the base,            pubescent. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 26            arranged in two whorls. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Close to N79B to N79C. When opening, lower surface: Close to            N79A to N79B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N79B to            N79C; color becoming closer to between N186B and 187A with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N79B to            N79C; stripes, close to 71A.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 8 mm. Diameter, apex: About 3 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 150. Color, immature: Apex: Close to N79A to N79B.            Mid-section: Close to 186A. Base: Close to 186D. Color,            mature: Apex: Close to N79B to N79C. Mid-section: Close to            79D. Base: Close to 186C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 28 arranged in            two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 147B; margins, close to 147D. Color, lower surface:            Close to 137B; margins, close to 137D.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.1 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncles: Mostly            upright. Aspect, axillary peduncles: About 32.5° from stem            axis. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Filament length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color: Close to 203B.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 24A.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Pistil            length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:            Close to N186C. Style length: About 6.5 mm. Style color:            Close to N79C. Ovary color: Close to 144D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been            observed on plants of the new Osteospermum.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermum plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness    Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named‘Sunost1401’ as illustrated and described.